FILE – In this Thursday, June 18, 2015 file photo, Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, watches his tee shot on the 10th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. Rory McIlroy posted two videos on Instagram that suggest he might be able to return for the PGA Championship, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

A year ago at Valhallah, Rory McIlroy made a par on the 18th hole in pretty much total darkness to collect his fourth career and second straight major. McIlroy had a one-shot lead going into the final round, but Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson each passed him with birdie-filled front nines. McIlroy came from three shots back with an eagle at the 10th and held off Mickelson by one stroke.

But it’s likely McIlroy, who has already missed defending his British Open title because he’s been out with a ruptured left ankle ligament, could miss this one as well as the rest of the season. Still, the 26-year-old remains the second favorite (10/1 odds) to win this despite all that, behind Jordan Speith (11/2)

This will be the third PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, which also hosted in 2004 (a three-hole aggregate playoff won by Vijay Singh) and 2010 (another three-hole playoff won by Martin Kaymer). There are Scottish blackface sheep that graze around the 15th fairway if you’re not careful. That’s if you’ve already avoided one of the more than 1,000 bunkers that exist on the course – the nastiest being in front of the par-5 11th green.

TNT has coverage of the first two rounds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as the final two rounds from 7-10 a.m. CBS has the final two rounds from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

NO. 2: BEACH VOLLEYBALL: AVP MANHATTAN BEACH OPEN

Manhattan Beach pier, Friday-Sunday, Ch. 4

The current version of the AVP has had tour stops already in New Orleans, New York and Seattle. There are events coming up in Chicago, Cincinnati and, for the year-ender, Huntington Beach. But this one remains the king of the beach. It’s 55 years strong and it actually begins with the Volleyball Walk of Fame red carpet ceremony at the Manhattan Beach Pier on Thursday to honor last year’s champions from the men (Phil Dalhausser and Sean Rosenthal) and women (Kerri Walsh-Jennings and April Ross).

The issue is whether Walsh-Jennings, the three-time Olympic gold medal champion, is healthy enough to compete here. It’s not likely. She separated her right shoulder twice during matches in May and July – the last time in Switzerland, but she had it reset and powered through with Ross to victory. The 36-year-old Walsh-Jennings has had four surgeries on the shoulder in her career and might want to pass here as she attempts to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. If she rests as long as she anticipates, she may not return until Aug. 19 for the World Series of Beach Volleyball in Long Beach.

The main draw starts at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The semifinals and finals are from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Ch. 4 has the finals at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

NO. 3: MLB: DODGERS vs. WASHINGTON

Dodger Stadium, Monday-Wednesday, SportsNet L.A.

When the teams met after the All-Star break in the nation’s capital, the Dodgers took two out of three when Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw outlasted Doug Fister and Max Scherzer. This time around, the Nats have netted Jonathan Papelbon to hang around in their bullpen as the closer. And while Stephen Strasburg looked lights out Saturday in his first start since coming off the disabled list, the Dodgers will miss him. And after Brett Anderson pitches the first game, Greinke and Kershaw follow.

The Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez was 7 for 11 in the first series with four runs, three RBIs and two homers. The Nationals’ Bryce Harper was 2 for 8 with three RBIs, five strikeouts and three walks.

All games are at 7:10 p.m.

NO. 4: MLB: ANGELS at KANSAS CITY

Kaufmann Stadium, Kansas City, Mo., Thursday-Sunday, FSW

These two played in the first weekend series of the season, which was the Angels’ home opener. And much like the way the Angels’ 2014 season ended in the American League Division Series, the defending AL champion Royals pulled off a three-game sweep.

The Royals, with an AL-best 66-44 record and comfortable 11 1/2-game lead over Minnesota in the AL Central, made a bigger splash at the trade deadline, picking up starting pitcher Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist, who can play infield or outfield.

Games are at 5:10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 4:10 p.m. Saturday and 11:10 a.m. Sunday.

NO. 5: MLB: DODGERS vs. CINCINNATI

Dodger Stadium, Thursday-Sunday, SportsNet L.A.

Mat Latos, who spent three seasons in Cincinnati before getting traded to Miami after the 2014 season, will start the first game of the series against his old club. After a stellar one-run, six-inning debut with the Dodgers on Aug. 2, Latos faltered Saturday in Pittsburgh, getting roughed up for six runs on seven hits in just four innings of a 6-5 loss.

The Reds, mired deep in the National League Central and challenging Milwaukee for the cellar, became a seller at the trade deadline. Out went starting pitchers Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake, which means the Dodgers will face an interesting quartet. Raise your hand if you’ve heard of Keyvius Sampson, Anthony DeSclafani, David Holmberg or Michael Lorenzen. Exactly.

Games are at 7:10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 6:10 p.m. Saturday and 1:10 p.m. Sunday. A Sandy Koufax bobblehead giveaway is Thursday.

NO. 6: MLB: ANGELS at CHICAGO WHITE SOX

U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, Ill., Monday-Wednesday, FSW

After a six-game skid, the Angels went 4-2 at home, punctuated by a bases-loaded single by David Murphy for a 5-4 victory over Baltimore. They trail Houston by one game in the AL West and lead the Orioles by three games in the AL wild-card standings.

Can the Angels take this momentum on the road? They’ll need to because after the South Side, the Halos play four in AL-best Kansas City.

All games are at 5:10 p.m

NO. 7: MLS: GALAXY at DALLAS

Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas, 6 p.m. Saturday, TWCS

So maybe the Galaxy were on to something with this Giovani dos Santos kid. For four years, they tried to persuade the Mexican national team star to come play in Los Angeles. Not only did the Galaxy know they could strike it rich with a built-in fan base, but they saw the potential for one of the most potent attacking teams in the league. The 26-year-old dos Santos debuted Thursday with a goal during a 5-1 victory over Trinidad & Tobago’s Central FC in a CONCACAF Champions League match at StubHub Center. He followed that with a goal and an assist in his MLS debut Sunday, which was a 3-1 home victory over Seattle.

The Galaxy (11-7-7) are just two points behind Vancouver for first place in the Western Conference, and are two points ahead of FC Dallas (11-6-5) in second place.

NO. 8: NFL EXHIBITIONS: WEEK 1

DALLAS at SAN DIEGO

Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, 7 p.m. Thursday, Ch. 2

ST. LOUIS at OAKLAND

O.co Stadium, Oakland, 7 p.m. Friday, Ch. 5

As if Sunday’s Hall of Fame Game between Pittsburgh and Minnesota wasn’t enough to whet your appetite, welcome to this first weekend of a four-week “preseason” schedule from Thursday to Sunday.

And look at all the SoCal connections. You have the Cowboys, who train in Oxnard, going against the Chargers, who are looking longingly at a drive up the Golden State Freeway for a new stadium and home since prospects are looking bleak in America’s Finest City. And then there’s the Rams and Raiders, both looking to return to Southern California.

If only we could get a peek at the Nielsen ratings in Inglewood and Carson.

NO. 9: SKATEBOARDING: DEW TOUR

Downtown Los Angeles, Friday-Sunday, TV TBD

This is not your father’s X Games. Los Angeles is going through its second year of withdrawals after the annual extreme-sports event, after 11 years, decided to take its act to Austin, Texas.

Vert kicks off the finals at 4 p.m. Friday, followed by the Street final at 4 p.m. Saturday. Both events take place at the Ace Hotel. On Sunday, Broadway Street — between Temple Street and 1st Street — will be closed down for the Streetstyle final at 1 p.m.

The Dew Tour Los Angeles (www.DewTour.com) is free and open to the public. Event gates will open at noon Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. Sunday.

NO. 10: WNBA: SPARKS vs. CHICAGO

Details/TV: At Staples Center, Sunday at 2 p.m., TWCS

You want to talk Player Efficiency Rating? Elena Delle Donne, the 6-foot-5 forward playing point guard for the Chicago Sky, leads the league in scoring and is on pace to have the most efficient statistical season in professional basketball history.

But the Sparks, buoyed by the returns of Candace Parker and Amanda Beard, have newfound life, winning four in a ow going into Sunday’s game against Minnesota. Is there enough time for the Sparks to overcome its awful start — 0-7 and 3-14 – to advance out of the Western Conference?

Tom Hoffarth is a freelancer. He had been with the Daily News/Southern California News Group since 1992 as a general assignment sports reporter, columnist and specialist in the sports media. He has been honored by the Associated Press for sports columnists and honored by the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association for his career work. His favorite sportscaster of all time: Vin Scully, for professional and personal reasons. He considers watching Zenyatta win the Breeders' Cup 2009 Classic to be the most memorable sporting event he has covered in his career. Go figure that.

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